Anne.

Nay, good troth.

Old L. Yes, troth, and troth; you would not be a queen?
Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.

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Old L. 'Tis strange: a three-pence bow'd would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,

No, in truth.

What think you of a duchess? have you limbs

To bear that load of title?

Anne.

Old L. Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little; I would not be a young count in your way,

For more than blushing comes to.

Anne.

I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.

Old L.

How you do talk!

In faith, for little England

You'd venture an emballing: I myself

Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd

No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What were 't worth to know The secret of your conference?

Anne.

My good lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking:

Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming

The action of good women: there is hope

All will be well.

Anne.

Now I pray God, amen!

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note 's
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

I do not know

Anne.
What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes

More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,

Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid to his highness,
Whose health and royalty I pray for.

Cham.

Lady,

I shall not fail to improve the fair conceit

The king hath of you. [Aside.] I have perus'd her well;
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled

That they have caught the king: and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem

To lighten all this isle?—I'll to the king,

And say I spoke with you.

Anne.

My honour'd lord.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

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Old L. Why, this it is; see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate!
A very fresh-fish here-fie, fie, fie upon

This compell'd fortune !-have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.

Anne.

This is strange to me.

Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no. There was a lady once, 'tis an old story,

That would not be a queen, that would she not,

For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?
Anne. Come, you are pleasant.

Old L.

With your theme, I could

O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke !

A thousand pounds a year for pure respect!

No other obligation! By my life,

That promises more thousands: honour's train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess; say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
Anne.

Good lady,

Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on 't. Would I had no being
If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me,
To think what follows.

The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
What here you have heard to her.
Old L.

What do you think me? [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-A Hall in Black-friars.

Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter Two Vergers, with short silver wands; next them, Two Scribes, in the habits of doctors; after them, the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY alone; after him, the BISHOPS OF LINCOLN, ELY, ROCHESTER, and SAINT ASAPH ; next them, with some small distance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal's hat; then Two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a Gentleman-Usher bareheaded, accompanied with a Sergeant at Arms, bearing a silver mace; then Two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the Two CARDINALS WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; Two Noblemen with the sword and mace. [Then enter the KING and QUEEN, and their Trains.] The KING takes place under the cloth of state; the Two CARDINALS sit under him as judges. The QUEEN takes place at some distance from the KING. The BISHOPS place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the hall.

Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded.

Scribe. Say, Henry King of England, come into the court.
Crier. Henry King of England, &c.

K. Hen. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. Crier. Katharine Queen of England, &c.

10

goes about

[The QUEEN makes no answer, rises out of her chair, the court, comes to the KING, and kneels at his feet; then speaks. Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,

And to bestow your pity on me; for

I am a most poor woman and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off

15

And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,

I have been to you a true and humble wife,

At all times to your will conformable,

Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,

Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry
As I saw it inclin'd: when was the hour

I ever contradicted your desire,

Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine
That had to him deriv'd your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice

He was from thence discharg'd? Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been blest
With many children by you: if in the course
And process of this time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond to wedlock or my love and duty,
Against your sacred person, in God's name,
Turn me away, and let the foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and so give me up

To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for

A prince most prudent, of an excellent

And unmatch'd wit and judgment: Ferdinand,

My father, king of Spain, was reckon❜d one

The wisest prince that there had reign'd by many year before: it is not to be question'd

A

That they had gather'd a wise council to them

Of every realm, that did debate this business,

Who deem'd our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly
Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd, whose counsel
I will implore: if not, i' the name of God,

Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol.

You have here, lady,

And of your choice, these reverend fathers; men
Of singular integrity and learning,

Yea, the elect of the land, who are assembled

To plead your cause: it shall be therefore bootless
That longer you desire the court, as well
For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unsettled in the king.

Cam.

His grace

Hath spoken well and justly: therefore, madam,
It's fit this royal session do proceed,

And that without delay their arguments

Be now produc'd and heard.

Q. Kath.

Lord cardinal,

To you I speak.

Wol.

Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath.

Sir,

65

Or God will punish me. I do believe,

I am about to weep; but, thinking that

We are a queen, or long have dream'd so, certain
The daughter of a king, my drops of tears

I'll turn to sparks of fire.

Wol.

Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before,

70

Be patient yet.

Induc'd by potent circumstances, that

You are mine enemy, and make my challenge

75

You shall not be my judge: for it is you

Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;

Which God's dew quench! Therefore I say again,

80

e

Have stood to charity and display'd the effects

I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul

Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more,
I hold my most malicious foe, and think not
At all a friend to truth.

Wol.

You speak not like yourself; who ever yet

Of disposition gentle and of wisdom

I do profess

85

O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong:

I have no spleen against you, nor injustice

For you or any: how far I have proceeded,

Or how far further shall, is warranted

By a commission from the consistory,

90

Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it :

The king is present: if it be known to him

That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him
It lies to cure me; and the cure is to

95

Remove these thoughts from you: the which before

100